Having trouble picking this lock.

[chevyguy41]

I am new to lockpicking however if I may say so I am learning to pick somewhat quickly maybe luck! LOL anyway I have this square Brass MiniCo padlock and man is it giving me a tough time I have picked a couple kwiksets and several Masterlock padlocks and a few doors BUT this little creep is really becomming my DOOM! LOL

Could anyone help me here? the pins seem to bind so easily that I am having a really tough time finding which pin to start on first.

Security pins? Spool pins? Demons??? LOL

Any help would be great! Thank guys!

PS it is a new lock and I do have the keys. Also can you take this lock apart? if so how?

[digital_blue]

I'm not familiar with the lock, but here's a couple pointers off the top of my head.

If this is a cheap padlock, that may actually be part of the problem. It seems to me that very good locks can be hard to pick, and very bad locks can be equally hard to pick sometimes. If the tolerances are really bad and the machining is poor it can make a cheap lock a real headache to pick.

If you're finding that multiple pins are binding up, the only real answer I can offer is less tension. Over-tensioning is probably one of the most common beginner mistake. Maybe try it with a feather touch and feel for which pin offers the most resistance.

Barring that, maybe it's time to set the lock aside in your "Haven't Picked Yet" pile. Every lockpicker has a pile like that. You'll be glad to have it later when your skills have developed and you're looking for a new challenge.

Hope this was of some help! Happy picking!

db

[chevyguy41]

db,

Thanks for the help. Sounds dumb but as a newb I never even thought of a not picked pile, just thought I should keep at it until I win! LOL
Also after more reading here at the site I realize that this lock is also a High/Low pick after also more looking at the key. Guess I'll wait until my experience has improved.

Thanks again for the advise you guys are so great and I love reading about your experiences not to mention your humorous rantings... You guys sure seem to have a great time , I only hope I can be apart of it eventually!

Thanks again!

cg

PS how'd you guy's make your avatars?

[sivlogkart]

It might be interesting sometime to know what we do have on the not-picked piles. There are some obvious high security locks, but it is the other ones I would be interested in. And chevyguy41 you are part of it!

[digital_blue]

I only hope I can be apart of it eventually!

I'm afraid that's quite impossible. You see, we only let people into "the club" after a very rigorous hazing period and a large financial donation to the first mod that answered your question.



Naw. chevyguy.... you just became part of it! Welcome to the club. Stick around and enjoy yourself. And, of course, Happy Picking!

db

[chevyguy41]

Thanks again and I am enjoying myself here you guy are great and as for the fee... How do you feel about rubber checks? LOL

Hey I see you like Magic, well a little info for ya... Ever heard of the
"Magic Castle" in Hollywood CA. well I am a Magician Member of that GREAT establishment for some years now, ever been there? Like on vacation or something?

[digital_blue]

No, but I've heard many stories. A magician friend of mine some years ago was a frequenter, but he was 86 when he died and that was around 6 or 7 years ago. He used to hang out back then with Dai Vernon and the likes, so we're going WAY back.

I've always thought it would be cool to hang at the castle.

db

[chevyguy41]

db,

Your right that is going back a bit! LOL But it is cool you know about the castle and Dai Vernon. If you are ever in town you have a standing invitation from me to go to the Castle as my guest and I will even buy you dinner there, maybe my wife will go as well! We'll make a night of it!
How does that sound to ya?

BTW your blue sig box you made I am starting to make one but how do you get it to appear on each of your posts? Also what did you use to get the jaged edges instead of the regular smooth box edges

ok back to lockpicking... LOL

[helix]

If you make your picture, upload it to photobucket.
When it is in a photobucket album, you will have an
address typed for it.

Copy the address that says image.
Go to your LP101 profile, and scroll down to signature.
Paste your photobucket image address and you should be all set.

To make sure that it doesn't exceed the maximum height of about four
lines, put a test post in the thread specifically for testing signatures.

Just do a search for 'sig test' and you should find the thread fine.

The jagged edges, would be a template, I'd say.
You can download these, try googling photo magic or image magic
or some other form of magical touches that people use on their
photos.
If you have photoshop on your computer, this more than likely has
templates that go around your pictures, too.

[chevyguy41]

Thanks dude! Your post is a big help!

Have a great one!

cg

[digital_blue]

Yeah, what he said. Except I used a very specialized tool for my sig called "The Santos". (Don't worry, if you read here long enough you'll get that).

As for the castle invite, I'm honoured. If you decide to stick around here and I find myself going that way you will most certainly find yourself one dinner poorer.

[POSTHIJACK]
Quick trivia. Any magician folk know why Dai Vernon went from being called "Day" Vernon to "Die" Vernon (in pronounciation only)? It ties into some neat history with the castle.
[/POSTHIJACK]

Cheers!

db